DNA quantification as a prognostic factor in colorectal adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To determine if DNA quantification, studied in cytologic samples obtained by fiberendoscopy, has predictive value in colorectal adenocarcin oma. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed by cytology, endoscopy and microbiopsy, were selected. The study covered >10 years. Sme ars were stained with progressive hematoxylin and processed by computer for DNA evaluation by image cytometry. RESULTS: Four different types of histograms that directly related to malign ancy were obtained. These histograms were characterized by the value of ent ropy, and we established four grades of aggressiveness. Finally, we obtaine d two large groups: high and low grade of malignancy. We studied the surviv al times in both groups and used a Kaplan-Meier survival curve for the high grade group. We confirmed the results statistically and found that there w as a significant relationship, with P<.05. CONCLUSION: We strongly advise the use of DNA quantification by image cytom etry in daily surgery as a prognostic indicator of survival time in colorec tal cancer.